2009 Cheltenham Gold Cup Runners

Cheltenham Gold Cup competitors jump a fence 2006 (Getty Images)

The final field for the 2009 Cheltenham Gold Cup will be closer to the event approaches. Here are just a few of the racehorses worth looking out for if they are fit for the 2009 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Kauto Star

Kauto Star is the reigning Cheltenham Gold Cup champion. This new star of National Hunt racing won the 2007 Cheltenham Gold Cup after entering the race a clear favourite. Kauto Star also placed second at the 2008 Cheltenham Festival. In the last two years Kauto Star has become one of the biggest draws in National Hunt racing, and chances are he will put in another superb performance at the 2009 Cheltenham Gold Cup. If you’re planning on picking Kauto Star as your Cheltenham Gold Cup winner bet as early as possible as odds are likely to get shorter as the race approaches.

Kicking King

The 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner was expected to have a major impact on National Hunt racing before he picked up a tendon injury at the 2005 King George VI Chase. The injury kept the champion out of the next two Cheltenham Gold Cups, but he is expected to make his return to competitive racing in 2009 at the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Having won three major races at the Cheltenham Festival in previous years, Kicking King is entirely at home on the difficult Cheltenham Racecourse.

My Way de Solzen

My Way de Solzen is another fine prospect who has already proved his class in big races at the Cheltenham Festival. My Way de Solzen has won both the World Hurdle and the Arkle Challenge Trophy in the last two years, and appears ready to graduate into the top league of National Hunt racing. Months away from the 2009 Cheltenham Festival My Way de Solzen has been offering odds between 8-1 to 10-1.